Podcasts – Books

SCRIPTS & SCRIBES PODCAST #33 w/ Sheri Fink

We talk to Sheri Fink about why she decided to self-publish, the process of self-publishing a children’s book, collaborating with an illustrator, the importance of word-of-mouth marketing, and what qualities make up a good children’s book character. (recorded 10/3/12)

We talk to Laura Harrington about transforming a musical into a novel – and then transforming that novel back into a musical, the difference between writing for the theater and writing novels, that gray area between adult and YA books, writing about subjects that are close to home, and the importance of self-promotion. (recorded 9/25/12)

We talk to Nancy Mullane about how she came to know five prison inmates, the intricacies of researching within the prison system, how she organized four years of research into a manuscript, the role her publishing house Public Affairs played in submitting her book for the Pulitzer Prize, and how she landed her first agent and publisher. (recorded 8/7/12)

We talk to Leonard Goldberg about the combination of medicine and politics in his latest book Patient One, how his medical career influences his writing, penning a series versus a stand-alone novel, balancing his medical and writing careers, transitioning between writing for the medical field and writing for a mass audience, and the importance of three-star reviews. (recorded 8/4/12)

We talk to Margaret Dilloway about researching in two different fields for her newest book, writing about subjects with a personal slant, how newspaper writing helped her fiction, how she landed her first agent, and why she likes to participate in book clubs. (recorded 7/27/12)

We talk to Brian Freeman about how the genre of psychological suspense differs from those of mystery and crime, the process of putting together a psychological suspense novel, the importance of setting, the pseudonym under which he writes chick-lit, and why he enjoys connecting with book clubs. Listen to the entire interview below. (recorded 7/10/12)

We talk to neuroeconomist and author Dr. Paul Zak about how the brain chemical oxytocin affects morality, maintaining narrative in a science book, writing for a general audience versus for the scientific community, becoming a narrator with whom readers can connect, and the importance of online promotion. Listen to the entire interview below. (recorded 7/2/12)

We talk to George Gibsonabout what he does as Publishing Director, taking the reins at Bloomsbury USA, the type of books he is looking for, running publishing houses large and small, and some of Bloomsbury’s newest books. Listen to the entire interview below. (recorded 5/18/12)

We talk to VMK Fewings about bringing something new to the popular vampire genre, being influenced by Anne Rice, doing historical research, and signing and working with a mid-sized publisher. Listen to the entire interview below. (recorded 5/13/12)

We talk to Rob Spillmanabout what it’s like editing a literary magazine, what he looks for in a great short story, the importance of confidence in writing, recent trends in the world of literary fiction, and the (less-obvious) differences between short stores and full-length books. Listen to the entire interview below. (recorded 5/15/12)

We talk to Wes Albers about drawing from his personal experience to write a grittily-realistic novel, how things fell apart with two different agents before he signed with a mid-sized publisher, balancing being a writer and being a cop, how he landed his job as director of the Southern California Writers’ Conference, and what that conference can do for you. Listen to the entire interview below. (recorded 5/13/12)

We talk to Jessica Therrien about writing a young adult series, getting published without an agent, working with a mid-sized publisher, and her typical writing style. Listen to the entire interview below. (recorded 5/11/12 )

We talk to Tom Mayer about the nature of being an editor, the process a submitted manuscript goes though to become a published book, the editor-author relationship, the difference between editing fiction and nonfiction, and what makes a manuscript really stand out. Listen to the entire interview below. (recorded 5/11/12)

We talk to Kelli Stanley about her use of period objects for research and inspiration, incorporating real-life places and events into her writing, how she got back on her feet after her agent left the country, and moving her book series from a small publisher to a large one. Listen to the entire interview below. (recorded 5/10/12)

We talk to Susan Beth Pfeffer about families in crisis, male vs. female perspective and first person vs. third person, learning to listen to the ideas that are around us, how she thankfully didn’t become an editor, the joy of peanut butter, and her preferred natural disaster. Listen to the entire interview below. (recorded 4/23/12)

We talk to Amber Benson about writing a novel series, her typical writing schedule, coming up with titles, writing for a character she played on television for three years, doing historical and mythological research, writing for kids, knowing your audience, and what it means to be a nerd. Listen to the entire interview below. (recorded 4/23/12)